I was awakened in the wee hours of the morning by my mom telling me she had tried to kill herself. This was her second attempt. I don’t remember if she had any emotion in her voice or not. I was only 18 years old and in complete shock!
As a high school senior, I was taking care of my baby sister and ill mother. I was overwhelmed and didn’t know how to deal with all of these responsibilities—much of them didn’t belong on my shoulders. My parents were divorced. My father was in another state.
My mom’s decline started out slow. She went to a doctor and saw a psychiatrist. She was prescribed Valium, and other tranquilizers for her anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Her condition didn’t improve, but continued to spiral downward. The suicidal attempts happened after she was on these medications.
My mom’s journey did end in suicide a few months later. What happened? How could this be? She struggled for two horrific years. It left me numb and exhausted. The day of her death seemed so surreal. How could everyone keep going on with their lives, when mine was shaken to its core? Graduation from high school was empty. I didn’t know then that my mom’s death and circumstances surrounding it put me into PTSD, which lingered for decades.
If I knew then what I know now, my mom may still be alive. She could be enjoying her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She could have traveled more, developed her many talents. Her family would have enjoyed her great sense of humor. She had so much to live for. I didn’t have her when I needed her; especially when I had my own children.
After her death, I decided that I would never put my family of creation through what I went through with my family of origin. The medical paradigm failed my mom. After my mom’s death, depression and exhaustion became my constant companion and it terrified me. Looking back I realized that trauma begets trauma.
I knew I had to find a better path; especially because my children were also suffering from depression, insomnia, and anxiety. I studied books on nutrition, took classes in herbology, aromatherapy, mineral balancing, diet, toxic loads, emotional therapies, and energy medicine. I became certified as a Natural Health Consultant, Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner, Fermentationist, Emotion Code Practitioner, and received a diploma in Nutritional Balancing Science.
As I studied and applied these new skills and modalities on myself and my family, I saw that they actually worked! I started sleeping better, feeling happier and more calm. My children also saw vast improvements in their physical and mental health. I felt empowered. By following the principles I learned I didn’t have to rely on doctors to take care of myself and my family. My goal is to educate clients, so they become experts as well.
If my mom were my client, I would guide her in addressing her diet first. Which foods are nutrient dense and which are refined and low in nutrients? I will refrain from getting on my soap box about herbicides, pesticides, and our toxic world and how nutritionally depleting these are to our body☺. Next I would look at food intolerance and sensitivities. There are proper ways to prepare foods that increase their nutrient availability to the body and decrease the body’s inflammatory response. What types of fats are in her diet and in what amounts? Also, getting adequate protein is huge for regulating mood and energy.
Second, I would look at her rest. What is the amount and quality of sleep? Is she going to bed at the proper time for her body? Does she take breaks in the middle of the day to recharge? I would educate beyond sleep hygiene. If sleep isn’t happening, healing isn’t happening. Insomnia is a symptom of something bigger beneath the surface. This requires investigating to find the correct solutions.
Third is exercise. Exercise is crucial for mood, hormone balance, increasing and regulating energy, and sleep. The type of exercise is also very important. Too much or too heavy can actually do more harm than good. Walks, yoga, slow moving exercises would have benefited my mom. In her broken state, heavy exercise would have exhausted her further.
The fourth item to address is stress. Stress can stem from many normal aspects of life both internal and external. Internal stressors include thinking patterns, trauma and unresolved emotions, pathogens, toxins, and lifestyle choices. External stressors include, diet, environmental toxins, relationships, schedules and workload, and lack of support—financial, emotional, social, physical.
Most people are stuck in survival mode, but there are solutions to correct this. I believe it takes a whole person approach to have harmony and balance in one’s life. Sometimes the journey to health requires a team of people—a support group of friends and family and a professional support team of certified or licensed practitioners. There are a lot of modalities that help with trauma and stress. Bowenwork, RET (Rapid Eye Technology), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Somatic therapy, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Emotion Code, Body Code, Biofield Tuning, Math Heart, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to name a few.
The last thing to look at is supplements. Usually supplements are needed to repair and correct imbalances. Unfortunately, we live in an age where our food is nutrient deficient, even if it is organic. Yes, food can be our medicine, but that is after the body has come into homeostasis and the choice of food is high quality and being digested properly. The quality and type of supplement makes a big difference too. A targeted approach works best. Different brands work better for different people.
I am passionate about nurturing the whole person into obtaining and maintaining robust health. This allows each client to live their full potential and enjoy life. Medications too often suppress symptoms, creating more imbalance in the body. They also deplete nutrients. Healing should be fostered, not forced. As noted above, I teach about diet, rest, exercise, stress reduction, and proper supplementation. I use lab testing and questionnaires to identify and address client’s hidden healing opportunities. Everyone I work with receives individualized care.
I offer a free discovery call for those struggling with their health who are looking for natural solutions. If you are ready to embark on your journey back to health click on the link below and schedule a 45 minute discussion with me. https://go.oncehub.com/sheilaconsultation
Answers are out there. Don’t give up. My healing journey wasn’t linear. It went faster when I had help.